Peter Parker: Teenage Superhero

Disclaimer: We already know I don't own any of these characters. Note: The time shift in the beginning is caused by the Age Of Ultron event.

It wasn't supposed to be like this.

Hello, my name is Peter Parker.

And I'm a superhero.

And let me just say for the record, it ain't all it's cracked up to be. For one thing, you have crazy people trying to kill you on a daily basis. Second thing, it hurts. Duh. Third thing, your loved ones are in constant danger if you don't play your cards right. And you'll have to live with that for the rest of your life. Unless you're Moon Knight. That guys so crazy...anyway, I'm getting ahead of myself.

Let me start from the beginning...

The bell rung.

Damn it. Well, here goes another day in hell's kitchen.

Peter Parker opened the stall door to the boy's bathroom slowly. He peeked out carefully. Nobody was there.

Maybe I finally get a break.

Peter crept out of the stall and walked through the bathroom with the uttermost carefulness. Then, before Peter could react, a big meaty hand pushed him into the wall.

Crap, Peter thought. Almost made it.

"Hey there, Puny Parker," Flash said as spit flew into Peter's face.

"Say it, don't spray it, Quarterback," he shot back.

"So Puny Parker finally gets some balls for that mangina of his," Flash said sarcastically. "Well, by all means if you're feeling froggy, fell free to leap."

Peter said nothing.

"That's what I thought," Flash said with authority.

Flash quickly pulled his hand up in a fist. Peter flinched. He couldn't help it. Flash laughed.

"Ha! Ha! Ha! Oh man! I didn't think it was possible, but you actually made me laugh, Puny," Flash said mid-laugh. "Just for that, I'm gonna let you go."

Peter looked hopeful.

"Really?"

"Yeah. We're all friends here," Flash said, letting go of him. "Go ahead. The world is your oyster."

Peter slowly eased his way around the stocky umpa lumpa standing in front of him. He opened the bathroom door and ran out quickly.

Maybe I can actually make it to class this time.

Little did Peter know, Flash opened the door and stepped out. He took in a long breath of air.

Ah, Flash thought, this is what I live for.

Flash pulled his football out of his backpack and threw it with quarterback precision. WHAM! The ball hit Peter in the back of the head, and caused him to face-plant on the freshly waxed floor.

"Booyah," Flash yelled. "And that's why I'm an all-star!"

Gwen Stacy opened the door next to Peter, who was still on the ground.

"Oh my God, Peter," Gwen exclaimed. "Are you okay?"

"Oh yeah," Peter said without moving. "I'm just resting my eyes for a minute."

Gwen turned to Flash with pure ice and hatred in her eyes. Flash held his hands up defensively.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa," he started. "Flash is a friend to the ladies."

Gwen rolled her eyes and helped Peter up.

"Are you sure you're okay, Pete," she asked sympathetically. "You want me to take you to the nurse."

"I'm not a baby, Gwendolyn," Peter said.

Peter's eyes got big. Gwen hated being called Gwendolyn. Last time someone did that, she kicked them right in the nuts. Peter instinctively lowered his hands to his most valuable body part.

Gwen just picked his glasses up off the ground and put them on him.

"I know, I'm sorry," she said. "I'm just worried about you."

"Hey Tiger," a voice said behind them. "You okay?"

Uh oh, Peter thought.

And by the look on Gwen's face, it was exactly who he thought it was. Peter turned around to face Mary Jane Watson.

"Uhhh..."

"He's fine," Gwen said defensively.

Here we go, Peter thought. He and Gwen weren't dating, but she was always jealous of MJ. Peter couldn't understand why. Sure, Mary Jane was prettier than Gwen, not to say Gwen isn't beautiful, but come on, Peter and Gwen had known each other forever. Was she worried MJ would steal her and Peter's friendship? No way.

"You sure," MJ said, obviously not understanding the direness of the situation. "He has that, 'I wanna cry but I'm to manly to admit it' face on.

"He...," Gwen started.

The bell rung. Peter breathed in some fresh air.

Saved by the bell.

"Well, I have to head to class." Peter said. "Gwen, I'll see you at that science exhibit after school."

Peter smiled.

This is gonna be awesome, he thought.

He and Gwen were standing outside the lab of Dr. Curtis Connors at Empire State University. They had been waiting weeks to get the chance to come here, and it had finally arrived. Dr. Connors was finally allowing tours to see his work.

"This is gonna be so awesome," Gwen exclaimed as excited as he felt.

"My thoughts exactly," Peter said. "Shall we?"

"We shall," Gwen said.

When they went inside, they were not disappointed. This place was a scientific heaven. Everywhere they looked there was something that they both wanted to test out.

"Oh my God, is that a Stark Energy Converter," Gwen asked excitedly.

"There's only five of those in the entire world," Peter could barley get out through the excitement.

"Come on," Gwen said. "Let's go see the Otto Octavious arms."

When they made it to where Dr. Otto Octavious was stationed, Peter almost fainted. Around Dr. Octavious' waist was a harness that held six mechanical arms with three pincers on each arm. They were all doing different activities such as pouring beakers, adjusting meters, and making the good doctor some coffee. It was enough to make a man drool.

"Peter, you're drooling," Gwen said trying not to laugh.

Peter wiped it off.

"Morning, children," Dr. Octavious said to them.

They both stood there awestruck that the genius inventor spoke to them until Peter spoke.

"Actually Dr. Octavious," Peter said. "It's five in the afternoon."

Gwen elbowed him in the ribs.

"Peter.."

"Oh, uh, sorry Dr. Octavious," Peter said. "I get smart-mouthed when I'm nervous."

The doctor smiled.

"It's quite all right," he said. "I love a child who's not to nervous to speak."

"We'll leave you to your work," Gwen said.

Gwen pulled Peter away.

"Hey! I wanted to ask him some questions about the neural technology he uses to control his arms," Peter complained.

"Don't start with me," she said agitated. "I might not get a scholarship to Empire State because of you."

Peter rolled his eyes.

"Oh definitely. I'm so sure Dr. Otto Octavious, who has a million things to do, will sit there two years from now and say 'oh no, don't let this rascal in, she was with that boy who told me it was 5 o'clock'," Peter said sarcastically.

Gwen smiled in the cute way she does when she wants to be mad, can't. Peter almost lost his breathe.

"Uhhh..." he started lamely.

Gwen just kept smiling.

"Come on, let's check the spider exhibit you were so focused on seeing," she said.

They walked to the bug exhibit. Peter was astounded to see all new species of insects and arachnids. He looked at Gwen. She looked almost as excited as he was. Almost.

"They're really marvelous, aren't they," a voice said.

Peter and Gwen turned around to see Dr. Ezekiel Sims smiling at them.

"Yeah," Gwen said. "Major understatement."

"You were one of the leading scientist who created these, right Dr. Sims," Peter asked.

"Well, there were many scientists who contributed, but yes, I guess I got the biggest paycheck," Dr. Sims said modestly. "Would you like to hold one?"

Gwen shook her head.

"No way," she said. "Bugs freak me out."

"Really," Peter exclaimed. This was the most exciting thing that had ever happened to him. "I can hold one?"

"Sure."

Ezekiel reached his hand in and took out one of the spiders. He placed it in Peter's eager hands.

"Do they bite or anything," he asked.

"No, their mouths were removed to prevent it," Ezekiel said. "It's all completely safe, Mr. Parker."

"Uh, Peter," Gwen said. "How does he know your name?"

Just then, there was a ripple in the air. All for two seconds, Peter couldn't breathe. The only thing on his mind was: Why does this spider feel warm?

The next thing Peter knew there was an explosion, and he was sprawled out on the ground. There were screams and pleads for help all around him. Peter opened his eyes to see fire and carnage everywhere.

Gwen.

Peter quickly got to his feet. He saw that the damage was even worse than what he saw while on the ground. The building was on fire, and there were already a lot of casualties. But at the moment, Peter didn't care. He only cared about finding Gwen. He looked around. He saw Dr. Octavious howling in pain. The harness had melted to his body, and two of his arms were blasted off in the explosion. Peter looked again. There was Gwen, pinned under one of the containers that held the spiders. All of them were dead. Peter ran over to her.

"Gwen!"

"Uhhh...Peter?"

"Don't worry, Gwen," he said although he was extremely worried himself. "I'll get you out of here."

He lifted the container off of her with ease. He would wonder about that later, but for now, he had to get Gwen. He lifted her up in his arms.

"Peter..," she started.

"It's going to be okay," he said.

He ran for the door. Luckily, there wasn't any fire or debris over the door. He carried Gwen out and ran. He ran as far as he could. He didn't stop for anything. Not for the approaching squad cars. Not for the panicking people, he didn't even stop to realize that his fingers were sticking to Gwen's clothes. All he did was run to Gwen's home. Standing inside the calm house, Peter relaxed, at least a little bit.

He carried her to her front steps and rang the door bell. Police Captain George Stacy opened the door with a panicked look in his eyes. Seeing Peter there holding his daughter, he visually relaxed.

"Oh, thank God," he said. "Gwen."

He held out his arms and took her. It was then Peter realized how sticky his hands were. Luckily, they came unstuck as soon as he wanted them too, so Captain Stacy wouldn't get the wrong idea.

"Thank you, Peter," he said. "Thank you."

Not knowing what else to say, Peter simply replied.

"No problem."

"Do you, um, do you want to come in," he asked. "It'll be a mad house out here once everyone gets their bearings."

"You felt it too," Peter asked.

"I'm pretty sure everyone felt it," he said.

"I..I need to go home and check on my aunt and uncle," he said, clearly panicking.

"Go," the captain said.

Peter turned and ran to his house in Forest Hills. When he ran past Mary Jane's house next door, he was almost tempted to stop and check on her and her parents.

No, he thought. Aunt May and Uncle Ben first.

Peter ran inside house quickly. He didn't even realize the door was locked, and he'd broken right through it.

"Aunt May," he called. "Uncle Ben?!"

"We're in here, Pete," a voice came from the other room.

Peter ran in there and relaxed. There in the room was his Aunt May and Uncle Ben, maybe a little shaken, but otherwise okay.

"Oh thank God," Peter said holding back tears. "You guys are okay."

Peter ran and hugged them.

"We were so worried," Aunt May said, letting the tears flow. "Are you okay?"

"Me? It you guys I'm worried about," Peter said.

"We're peachy," Ben said. "So...how was the University?"

Peter laughed. Then stopped. The university. Maybe he should've tried to go back and help people get out. He shrugged it off. The police can worry about it. His family was safe, and that was all that mattered.

Having a chance to relax, Peter realized just how tired and dizzy he felt. The adrenaline was gone, and he realized how much that explosion hurt.

"I'm gonna go lay down," he said. "It's been a long day, to say the least."

Before they could respond Peter ran up the stairs to his bedroom. Before he could even take his glasses on, which miraculously didn't fall off, Peter passed out on his bed, feeling sick and exhausted. Oh, and the pain. Can't forget about the pain.